Owen Richards, 21, of Blyth, Northumberland, was sentenced to 28 months in prison after starting a fire in his cell while smoking synthetic cannabis, known as spice. The incident occurred on February 27 last year, when prison officers responded to the blaze at 6:45 a.m. and rescued Richards along with his cellmate, who had been asleep at the time.

The fire caused an estimated £2,500 in damage. When questioned about the origin of the fire, Richards admitted to setting it and expressed a desire to die. At Durham Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

The court heard that the fire resulted from the use of synthetic cannabis inside the cell, raising concerns about substance abuse and safety risks within the prison environment. No injuries were reported from the incident.